Fifth avenue landmarks

The two architectures in New York City that caught my attention are the St. Patrick’s cathedral and the Rockefeller building in Midtown on Fifth Avenue. These two New York landmarks face each other in the busiest area of New York City. Both of these landmarks are major tourist spots in the city, yet I have always found it like a huge irony that they are in front of each other because of their meanings.  

St. Patrick’s cathedral represents Catholicism, the idea of simple living and humility, while Rockefeller center represents power and wealth. Both of these ideologies seem to clash with one another, yet these two iconic monuments are placed right in front of each other.  

Rockefeller center is the largest private building ever, which shows the wealth of John D. Rockefeller. He was one of the owners of the standard oil company, and a member of what is known as the richest family in the world. The symbolism behind Rockefeller center is the idea of power, wealth and richness. It seems to create an idea of what people want to have. You look at Rockefeller center and it represents what a human wants to attain, the wealth and power. St. Patrick’s cathedral is a staple of Roman Catholicism. When I think of Catholicism I think of Jesus, and his humility. How he sacrificed himself to save us. This to me is the complete opposite of the idea of Rockefeller and the attainment of wealth.

Using readings that we discussed in class. This made me think of AUTOR. His idea that having money and spending it does not go against the idea of the Catholic church, but it is actually good. One should spend money on themselves because treating yourself is like treating God and making him better. I had never thought of it this way when it came to wealth and the church, but when we learned about AUTOR view point, it made me think of these two buildings. Could that be true? Do people who stop by to visit this church and later cross the street to shop and eat at Rockefeller center ever think of the huge contrast there is between these actions? Or is AUTOR right, and spending money and wanting/ having wealth a good thing in your relationship with God? I personally do not agree with AUTOR vie point, and when I sat and watched people go into St. Patrick’s with their shopping bags they had just acquired from across the street, it made me really think of these different ideals in society. How there are two different goals: one that includes attaining wealth and power, and the other of having a close relationship with God and following in Jesus’ footsteps.

I find it ironic that these two places are the staple of NYC, when they both represent completely different aspects of society. In one hand we have the religious power and in the other the monetary power. The cathedral represents the idea of being detached from material things while Rockefeller center represents material things. Seeing these two notable buildings right in front of each other has always made me wonder if these were placed there on purpose or if it was mere coincidence that these two ideals are facing each other in the middle of Fifth Avenue.